Vending machine



Nov. 1, 1949. c. L. CASEY ET AL VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 7, 1944 INVEN TOR 5.

Charles L. efiasgy. -Juddsan B.

New, 1, 1949.

Filed Sept. 7, 1944 c. 1.. CASEY Er AL VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR-S. Charles L. Casey, flson .H. @Lyno.

Nov. 1, 1949. c. L. CASEY Er AL 2,486,518

VENDING MACHINE 4 Shets-Sheet s Filed Sept. 7, l944 wf' B Nov. 1, 1949. c. 1.. CASEY El AL 9 5 VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 7, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR 5. I Caselr Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Charles L. Casey, Riverside, and J uddson B. -Ryn,o, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Reliable Sheet Metal Engineering 300,, Chicago, 111., a firm Application September 7, 1944, Serial No. 553,040

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in vending machines, particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in use, for vending sanitary napkins after a proper coin or token .has been deposited or inserted into the machine. More specifically, the invention is concerned .with what is commonly known as a shelf machine, in which the articles are supported upon shelves, the latter being'adapted to be successively tilted or dumped, to deliver or discharge the article to the operator.

.A further-object is to provide an improved machine of this character, in which the shelves or supports for the articles are mounted ,in .a framework, together with all of the operating mechanism, which frame and mechanism are freely removable, as a unit, from the enclosing casing or housing, when the door or closure ,for the housing is opened, thereby permitting ready access to the operating parts of the machine. One wall of the frame, whendisposed within the casing, serves as a shield to prevent the tripping of the operating mechanism, or the tilting of the shelves or supports, b the insertion ,of a tool or implement into the machine through the delivery outlet.

A further object is to provide improved means for maintaining the shelves or supports in proper position to hold the articles, and improved means for successively tripping the holding means to permit the shelves .to successively tilt, to release or .deliver the article supported thereby.

To the attainment of these .ends and the accomplishment of other new .and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists ,in .the features of novelty in substantially ,theconstruction, combination and arrangement of theseveral parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine --.of this character, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation .of Fig. .1.

Fig. 3 .is .a view, partly in elevation, partly broken away, and partly in section-of the framework, showing the manner of supporting .the shelves.

Fig. ,4 is a rear elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view, in section, and partly broken away, of the tripping mechanism for the shelves.

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the lower part of the operating mechanism.

Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view taken on line 1-1,Fig.6.

.Eig. .8 is a view, in elevation, of the coincontrolled mechanism.

Fig. '9 is a detail view taken on line 99, Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a detail view taken on line I'll-l0, Fig. 9.

Thema'chine consists, essentially, of azhousing or casing 15 having a closure 16, which is supported :in any suitable manner, such as by means of hinges 16 (Fig. ,1), and which closure is provided with adischarge .outlet opening ll adjacent the "bottom thereof, one of thewalls of the opening ll beingpreferably cut away, as at l8, for a purpose to be'describedl A bottom J39 is provided which is secured in position in any suitable manner, such as by means of a flange Mia, and fastening elements 19b, the latter engaging one of the cross members 2'4. Ilhis bottom is :inclined downwardly and. terminates in :a forwardly projecting base 20, as shown ;more clearly ,in Fig. ,3. This 'base 20 ;is disposed at shortdistance below the :bottom of the opening -l,'l (see Fig. 1:),so as "to .form a ledge or support for the article which is delivered down the incline 119, a portion .of :the ,front or closure extending above the platform to form a ledge .cr stop for the article. This platform 20 :is provided with a cutaway;portion 2!, which coincides with the cut-away portion 18 in the closure, thereby serving gas ;a means whereby the article may he removed through the opening I! by the insertion {of the fingers into the registering openings l 8.2-|.

The numeral 22 designates, generally, a supporting frame .or structure, upon which .the operating mechanism and .the supporting shelves are mounted. This frame maybe of any desired or suitable structure, but preferably comprises end members 2-3 which ar e in-the for rnof a solid wall, and {the walls may :be connected by suitable cross memberszM, "andathe :frame with the mechanism :that is supported thereby is adapted to be bodily removed from the housing or casing 'Pivotally mounted' between the walls '23 are a series of shelves or supports '25, preferably by means of pivot pins 26 journ'aled in suitable openings in the wall. Carried by each of the shelves 25 is a projecting 'pin or lug 21 which extends through an arcuate slot '28 in the wall 23, so thatas the shelf or's'upport fle swings about its pivot 26, it will be guided in its movement by the'pin or projection riding in the slot '28. Pivotally mounted on one fac'e 'of the wall 23,

'55 and individual to eachof the shelves Cir supports 3 25, is a catch or holding member 29, each of which swings about a pivot 39. One end of the member 29 is shaped to form a portion 3| that is adapted to engage the pin or projection 21 of the respective shelves, and hold the latter in a position to support an article within the machine. Each of these catches 29 is weighted, as at 32, so that the catch will be maintained in a position to hold the shelf against swinging movement. that when a shelf is in a position to hold the article the pin or projection 21 will rest upon the catch. When, however, the catch is tripped, in a manner to be described, the catch will be swung about its pivot, so as to permit the pin to pass as the shelf is lowered to discharge the article. The weighted end 32 of the catch will cause the catch to assume a position so that the pin or projection 21, when the shelf is again raised, to rest thereupon and lock the shelf in 130- sition to retain an article thereupon. In the locking position the weighted end 32 will maintain the catch in proper position, and will hold it against a stop 29a.

Arranged adjacent the wall 213 and beyond the catch members 29, is an endless flexible member 34 which passes over a pulley 35 at the top of the frame, and also over a similar pulley 39 at the bottom of the machine. This pulley 35 is provided with teeth or projections 31 that are adapted to enter openings 38 in the flexible membar, so as to move the latter, during which time it will pass over the pulley 35.

The numeral 39 designates a trip member which is adapted to be adjustably secured to the endless member 34, in any suitable manner. This member 39 is preferably provided with an opening 49 therein, in which the flexible member 34 is disposed, and the element 39 is adjustably secured to the flexible member, preferably by means of a pin 4| which is slidably mounted in a bracket or extension 42 on the member 39. The pin 4| is preferably provided with a looped handle 43 that is adapted to receive a projecting portion 44 on the extension 42, when the pin is turned to the position shown in Fig. 5, to lock the trip member 39 to the flexible member 34, and the pin 4| against movement which would disengage it from the flexible member 34. This portion 44 may be formed by cutting away or notching the member 42, as shown at 42a in Figs. and 10, to form a spaced shoulder.

When the trip member 39 is secured to the flexible member 34 and the latter is moved in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5, the trip member 39 will successively engage the catch devices 29 and swing them about their pivots 39, to release one of the shelves or supports 25, thereby allowing the latter to swing by gravity about its pivot 26 to discharge the article supported thereby. The article will then fall until it strikes the inclined portion 19 at the bottom of the framework, and will lodge upon te platform 20, to be removed from the machine in the manner already described. Arranged in the casing of the machine adjacent the flexible member 34 is a guide-way 23a in which a portion 39a of the trip member 39 travels, thereby maintaining the trip member in proper position to engage and trip the catches 29, and maintain the trip device against swinging movement with the endless flexible member 34.

It will be observed that the flexible endless element 34 and the catches 29, as shown in Fig. 5, are so arranged at the outer ends of the shelves The portion 33 of the catch is so shaped 25 that said catches are included within the projected peripheral outline of said flexible element, and that the trip element 39 has a portion projecting within the outline of said flexible element for selective engagement with the catches 29.

Any suitable mechanism may be provided for actuating the flexible member 34. The movement of this member is preferably controlled by a coin-controlled mechanism of any suitable construction, such as the construction disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,339,681, issued January 18, 1944. The coin-controlled mechanism does not constitute a part of the present invention, but is briefly described so as to give a clear understanding of the operation of this machine.

Sufiice it to say that the coin-controlled mechanism embodies a coin chute 45 having an entrance opening 46, and as the coin travels down the chute, it will drop upon a pivoted member 41. If the coin is of the proper value, it will be delivered by the member 41 into a coin-carrying member 48, which is operable by means of an operating handle 49 (see Figs. 2 and 6) located on the outside of the enclosing casing or housing I5. The coin in the carrier 49 will trip the member 59 and thereby allow the shaft 5| to be rotated. This shaft 5| is connected to the pulley 33, so as to rotate the latter. The pulley 36, as well as the shaft 5|, is maintained against retrograde movement in any suitable manner well known in this art, such as what is known as a ffull stroke mechanism embodying ratchet teeth 48a on the element 48, which are engaged by a pawl 482).

In order to adapt the shelf supporting frame and the other mechanism mounted thereupon for removal from the housing or casing I5, the actuating means, here shown as an operating handle 49, may be detachably connected to the shaft 5|, or to the pulley 52, in any ordinary and well-known manner which is suitable for the purpose.

The coin mechanism and the connection between the operating handle 49 and the shaft 5| are such that the operating handle may be given an oscillatory movement, while the direction of operation of the pulley and the flexible member 34 is constant. This is accomplished through the medium of a pawl and ratchet connection between the shaft and the pulley. To that end, there is connected with the pulley 36 a member 52 which is provided with internal teeth 53, and connected with the shaft 5| is an arm or member 54 that carries a spring-controlled pawl 55 that projects into the member 52 and co-operates with the teeth 53, the pawl 55 being so constructed and arranged that when the handle 49 is turned in one direction, the pawl will engage the teeth 53 to rotate the pulley 36, but when the handle is rotated in the opposite direction, the pawl will ride over the teeth 53, so as to permit the return of the operating handle 49, while the pulley 36 and the endless member 34 will remain idle.

In order to prevent overthrow of the flexible member, any suitable means may be provided, but this is accomplished, preferably, by providing a portion 56 of the pulley 36 with angular or flat surfaces 51, with which a brake member 58 co-operates. This brake member may be in the form of a bar or rod pivotally mounted, as at 59, so as to engage one of the faces 51, a spring 69 being also provided and connected to the member 58, tending to hold the same against one of the faces 51, but being yieldable to permit rotation of the pulley 36 and an advancement of the endless member 34.

When an improper coin is deposited into the coin chute, it will be directed over the pivoted member M to be discharged into a hopper or receiver 6|, and will be delivered to the outside of the machine, and back to the customer, through a delivery opening 62 (see Fig. 2). The numeral 63 designates a guard or shield which is adapted to be moved across the inlet opening 46 of the coin chute, so as to prevent the insertion of a coin when the machine is empty. This shield is adapted to be moved freely in suitable guides, and is controlled, in its operation, by the bracket 42 on the trip member 39. To that end, there is provided a rod or member 69 that is connected to the shield and extends to the top of the machine, being guided in a suitable guide-way 65. The extremity 66 of the member 64 is deflected, so as to extend within the path of movement of the bracket 42, so that when the bracket is in a position to trip the uppermost shelf, it will engage the deflected portion 66 of the rod 64, to raise the shield 63 to move it across the inlet opening of the coin chute.

When the trip member 39 reaches the top of the machine, it may be adjusted with respect to the endless member by withdrawing the pin 4! from the opening or recess 38 into which it projects, and then lowering the trip m mber to any desired position throughout the length of the run of the endless member. This may be done-from any position to which the trip member has been advanced.

With this construction, it will be manifest that all of the operating mechanism is mounted upon a frame, and this frame is adapted to be removed bodily from the casing or housing, so as to permit access to all of the operating parts. At the same time, and by reason of the wall 23 of the frame, the operating mechanism will be protected, and it will not be possible for any one to insert a, tool or implement into the delivery opening H in the door of the housing, to unauthorizedly tamper with the operating mechanism.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a vending machine, the combination comprising a frame structure, aplurality of superposed article supporting shelves, each mounted in said frame structure for swinging movement on a horizontal axis and including a, pin projecting from the outer end thereof, a catch pivotally mounted on said frame structure adjacent the outer end of each shelf and includin biasing 6 means normally holding it in engagement with the outwardly extending pin of said shelf to support it in a substantially horizontal plane, an endless flexible element carried on said frame structure and extending adjacent said outer ends of all the shelves, said flexible element including said catches in its projected peripheral outline, a trip device slidable on and releasably secured to said flexible element for movement therewith, said trip device having a portion projecting within the outline of said flexible element for selective engagement with the pivoted catches, and means for moving said flexible element to advance said trip device to successively disengage the catches from their normal biased engagement with the respective shelf pins.

2. In a Vending machine, the combination comprising a frame structure, a plurality of superposed article supporting shelves, each mounted in said frame structure for swingin movement on a horizontal axis and including a pin projecting from the outer end thereof, a weight biased catch pivotally mounted on said frame structure adjacent the outer end of each shelf and normally engageable with the outwardly extending pin of said shelf to support it in a substantially. horizontal plane, an endless flexibleelement carried on said frame structure and extending adjacent said outer ends of all the shelves, said flexible element including said catches in its projected peripheral outline, a trip device slidable on and releasably secured to said flexible element for movement therewith, elongated guide-Ways mounted on said frame structure in parallel relation to a length of the flexible element, said trip device havin a portion projecting within the outline of said flexible element for selective engagement with the pivoted catches,

and said trip device having another portion proj ecting into engagement with said guide-way, and means for moving said flexible element to advance said trip device to successively disengage the catches from their normal biased engagement with the respective shelf pins.

CHARLES L. CASEY. JUDDSON B. RYNO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 464,067 Foster Dec. 1, 1891 532,526 Bruce Jan. 15, 1895 537,369 Tomblin Apr. 9, 1895 1,284,319 Grover n Nov. 12, 1918 1,458,953 Robeson June 19, 1923 1,916,530 Richardson July 4, 1933 1,926,662 Antonine Sept. 12, 1933 2,366,592 Cameron Jan. 2, 1945 

